Professional Certification in Pediatric Special Needs Nutrition (CPSNN)

The Professional Certification in Pediatric Special Needs Nutrition is a specialized, practice-oriented program designed to equip learners with in-depth knowledge and practical skills to address the nutritional needs of infants, children, and adolescents with special healthcare and developmental requirements. The course integrates clinical nutrition science, pediatric feeding practices, behavioral nutrition, and therapeutic diet planning to support optimal growth, development, and quality of life in children with special needs.

This certification focuses on evidence-based nutritional interventions for conditions such as developmental delays, neurodevelopmental disorders, feeding difficulties, food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, and metabolic challenges. Participants will gain competency in individualized diet planning, caregiver counselling, interpretation of basic clinical tests, and multidisciplinary care approaches, enabling them to work confidently with children and families in diverse healthcare and community settings.

Certified Study Resources

International Affiliation with

Module 1: Introduction to Pediatric Special Needs & Clinical Nutrition

• Definition and classification of pediatric special needs
• Scope of pediatric clinical nutrition
• Role of nutrition in growth, development, and therapy outcomes
• Multidisciplinary care approach (pediatricians, therapists, educators)
• Ethical boundaries and scope of practice for nutrition professionals

Module 2: Growth, Development & Nutritional Assessment in Special Children

• Normal vs altered growth patterns in special children
• Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development milestones
• Anthropometric assessment (weight, height, MUAC, BMI-for-age)
• Dietary assessment tools and feeding history
• Interpretation of growth charts and red flags

Module 3: Nutrition for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ASD, ADHD, Learning Disabilities)

• Nutritional concerns in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• ADHD and dietary influences on attention and behavior
• Learning disabilities and micronutrient considerations
• Gut–brain axis and role of nutrition
• Dietary strategies and supplements

Module 4: Nutrition for Developmental & Physical Disabilities

(Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays)

• Energy and protein needs in physical disabilities
• Muscle tone issues, feeding posture, and texture modification
• Obesity risk and metabolic considerations
• Bone health and micronutrient support
• Managing feeding fatigue and dependency

Module 5: Feeding Difficulties, Fussy Eating & Behavioral Feeding Issues 

• Causes of feeding difficulties in special children
• Fussy eating, selective eating, and food neophobia
• Sensory-based feeding challenges
• Responsive feeding and behavior modification techniques
• Practical strategies for caregivers and meal routines

Module 6: Gastrointestinal Disorders, Colic & Gut Health in Children

• Common pediatric GI disorders (GERD, constipation, diarrhea)
• Infant and toddler colic: causes and nutritional management
• Role of fiber, fluids, and probiotics
• Food triggers and elimination approaches
• Supporting gut health in special needs children

Module 7: Food Allergies, Intolerances & Interpretation of Basic Tests

• IgE-mediated and non-IgE food allergies
• Lactose intolerance and celiac disease
• Elimination diets and safe food substitutions
• Understanding basic allergy and intolerance tests
• Reintroduction protocols and monitoring tolerance

Module 8: Micronutrient Deficiencies, Supplementation & Therapeutic Diets

• Common deficiencies (Iron, Vitamin D, B12, Calcium, Zinc)
• Impact of deficiencies on behavior and development
• Supplementation guidelines and safety
• Therapeutic diets for specific conditions
• Monitoring outcomes and avoiding over-supplementation

Module 9: Practical Pediatric Meal Planning, Case Studies & Care Plans

• Age-appropriate meal planning for special needs children
• Texture-modified and nutrient-dense diets
• School and daycare meal planning
• Real-life case studies and diet chart preparation
• Individualized care plan development

Module 10: Parent Counselling, Professional Practice & Ethical Considerations

• Effective communication with parents and caregivers
• Addressing myths, fears, and cultural beliefs
• Counseling during illness and therapy phases
• Professional ethics, referrals, and documentation
• Career pathways and setting up practice

Eligibility

Graduates in any discipline are eligible for our Post Graduate Diploma, Executive Diploma and Professional Certifications Programmes. 10+2 pass-outs are eligible for our Under Graduate Diploma and Diploma holders of two to three years course duration are also eligible for the PG Diploma.

Programme Duration

The minimum duration to complete the Professional Certification programme is 6 months and maximum is 12 months.

Programme Mode

Registration is currently open for Part-time (Online Live Classes) mode.

Programme Deliverables

A comprehensive study material for all the modules in hard copies ensuring the needs of the audience. The accompanying training material is appropriately aligned with the current Industry’s expectations.

• Interactive or online live sessions on all key areas of the programme giving all flexibility to the participants.
• Online Live Classes/Part-time for all the modules will be conducted on the weekends. Moreover, a doubt clearing session will also be scheduled before the examination.
• All the efforts are made by IGMPI faculty members to make the entire programme modules easily understandable.
• Assessment and evaluation for all the programme modules in order to enhance the levels of competencies and skills of the participants leading towards the objective of application in the job.
• At the end of each programme modules, the trainers shall obtain feedback from the participants using specially designed questionnaires.
• All learning and training delivery initiatives shall be conducted in English.

Assessment & Certification

All the participants are expected to appear for online assessment. After successfully qualifying the examination, the participants will be awarded Professional Certification in Pediatric Special Needs Nutrition by Centre for Nutrition and Dietetics Studies (CNDS), IGMPI. For all the above-mentioned elaborate study resources, Assessment test papers and case studies would be provided by the Institute from time to time. Details get updated on the website as well. The certification will be awarded after the required levels of knowledge, skills, professionalism, and attitude are assessed through the IGMPI assessment process.

Discipline in Classes and Examination

Every student is required to observe a disciplined behaviour during her/his classes, assessments & examinations and to follow instructions from the Professors. Any act of indiscipline may result into discredit & it will be mentioned in her/his academic report.

Placement Assistance & Corporate Relations

For the Post Graduate Diploma and Undergraduate Diploma Programmes, we will provide placement assistance after the completion of the programme. The Institute has partnered with many organizations for providing placement assistance to its students. The robust placement cell comprises senior level Human Resources professionals and Talent Acquisition experts which maintains close links with business and industry. The efforts of our placement cell also include helping with professional resume writing, interview skills & conducting mock interviews etc.

In recent months the Institute has witnessed more and more participation from professionals working with global healthcare like , Jhpiego, SELCO Foundation, TATA Foundation, Samarthan NGO, PSI, UNICEF, WHO, HCL Foundation, IPE Global, Optum, PATH, AIIMS, Action against Hunger, Ekta Shakti Foundation, Seva Foundation, India HIV-AIDS Alliance, HLFPPT, Deepak Foundation, Novartis, LalPath Labs Ltd., Fortis Healthcare Ltd., HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd., Indraprastha Medical Corporation Ltd., Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd., Piramal Enterprises Ltd., Wockhardt Ltd., Cactus Communications, Public Health Foundations of India, Cytel, Religare Health Insurance Company Ltd., Deloitte, DuPont Sustainable Solutions, Bain & Company, Alvarez & Marsal, McKinsey & Company, etc. The IGMPI’s Corporate Resource Division actively recommends our students and training participants for various job requirements and specialized roles to Human Resource, Talent Acquisition as well as the heads of various departments in Pharmaceutical, Healthcare industries on regular basis.

Future career prospects

The Professional Certification in Pediatric Special Needs Nutrition prepares participants for diverse roles such as Pediatric Special Needs Nutritionist, Feeding and Behavior Counsellor, Clinical Nutrition Consultant, Community Nutrition Educator, Wellness Coach, and Caregiver Trainer. Graduates can work with Pediatric clinics, hospitals, therapy centres, NGOs, schools, and wellness organizations, or establish independent practice and consultancy services. The programme also serves as a strong foundation for advanced specialization in Pediatric and clinical nutrition.

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Apply Online

Last date for submitting completed Application Form: 17^th Aug 2026.

For further enquiries, call or write to us on:
18001031071 (Toll Free -9:00 am to 5:30 pm IST-except on Central Government holidays)/ info@igmpi.ac.in